Willan anderson wilkins



No. 749,008. PATENTED JAN. 5, 1904. W. A. WILKINS.

BUGGY/TOP.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 25, 1903.

K0 MODEL.

Patented January 5, 1904.

PATENT ()FFICE.

WILLAN ANDERSON WILKINS, OF MARIETTA, INDIAN TERRITORY.

BUGGY-TOP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 749,008, dated January 5, 1904. Application filed July 25, 1903- Serial No. 167.032. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLAN ANDERSON WILKINS, acitizen of the United States, residing at Marietta, in the Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory, have invented new and useful Improvements in Buggy-Tops, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in buggy or carriage tops, and more particularly to means for checking the jar on the same when lowered; and the object in view is to provide a yielding support for the bows of buggy or carriage tops when turned down,

to prevent wear and jar or breaking of theparts of the top, and also to obviate packing or injury to the covering due to'excessive wrinkling of the leather or other material forming such covering.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the several parts, which will be more fully-hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a rail and one of the posts of a buggy or carriage top, showing the improved device applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail elevation of the attachment, showing a slight modification. Fig. 4 is an edge elevation of a portion of the attachment shown by Fig. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a part of a bow and the attachment, showing a difierent form of terminal clasp to engage the bow. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the attachment, showing a modified form of the clasp.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in the several views. p

The numeral 1 designates a buggy or carriage top bow which is pivotally attached, as usual, to the upwardly-bent extremity 2 of the rail 3 ordinarily found in buggy or, carriage constructions. Extending outwardly from the body of the vehicle and connecting with the rear portion of the rail is a prop 4, These features of construction are well known in the art and do not require further explanation. The first form of the attachment consists of an elongated spring or resilient rod or wire 5 of suitable gage, which extends along the bow l and has its front extremity pivotally mounted on a fulcrum device for the said bow. At an intermediate point the wire 5 is bent to provide an elongated elliptical overloop 6, and from the said loop the wire continues in the form of a connecting. arm 7 and terminates in an integral flattened clasp 8, of approximately circular form,which loosely embraces the bow.

In the form of, the device'shown by Figs. 3 and 4 the durability and resiliency of the loop are increased by applying thereto a concavo-convex sheet-metal clip 9, which is terminally connected to the loop and takes the wear directly off that part of the loop (shown by Figs. 1 and 2) which engages the prop as well as stifiens the said loop.

In the operation of the device the loop 6 engages the prop 4 when the bow is lowered, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. l, and should the top fall or rapidly descend in its lowering operation it will be cushioned by the loop and injurious jar as well as wear on the parts of the top will be prevented. It will be understood that the attachment will be applied to the opposite sides of the top, and it will also be observed that the organization of the several members included in the bow structure and fulcrum devices therefor is not in the least aflected by the application of the attachment, and hence the latter can be used on any buggy-top and quickly applied in operative position without additional expense. When the loop 6 strikes the prop 4, the Wire projecting in opposite directions therefrom yields and the clasp 8 will have slight longitudinal movement on the bow. By employing the loop, as set forth, breakage of the attachment is obstructed in view of the fact that said loop will take up and resist fracturing tendency. It is proposed to suitably ornament the attachment by plating, or it may be colored or painted to correspond to the color of the bow on which it is used and the remaining parts of the vehicle with which it cooperates. As shown by Figs. 5 and 6, the structure is slightly modified. The arm 7 in this instance terminates in a pair of curved fingers 10, which are yielding and embrace the bow 1. By the use of this form of clasp the attachment may be arranged directly under or adjacent to the rear portion of the bow instead of partially at the outer side of the latter, as in the previous construction. This modification will be advantageous in many applications of the attachment. It will also be understood that changes in the proportions, dimensions, and minordetails of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. The combination with the bow and prop of a vehicle, of a resilient support pivotally attached at one of its ends to the fulcrum for the bow, and slidably embracing said bow at its other end, the said support being provided with a loop bearing such relation to the :5 prop as that the member thereof most distant from the bow is caused to be directly seated upon said prop on lowering the top.

2. A resilient support for a buggy-bow or the like having an elongated projecting loop 20 at an intermediate point, and a clip secured over a part of said loop.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLAN ANDERSON WILKINS.

Witnesses:

THOS. L. WHITFIELD, WILLIAM E. CAAGAN. 

